Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse

Click here or call the OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-800-436-6184 to report suspected fraud, waste and abuse related to the following:

• Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, WIC or CHIP benefits.
• Medicaid providers, such as doctors, dentists, managed care organizations or personal care attendants.
• Texas retailers that accept WIC as payment.
• Texas retailers that accept SNAP as payment. (Please call to report due to temporary online system limitations.)
• Abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents of a State Hospital or State Supported Living Center.
• Improper actions by an HHS or Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employee or contractor.
• The abuse of prescription medications billed to Texas Medicaid.

To report fraud, waste or abuse regarding the expenditure of other state funds, contact the State Auditor's Office.

Why Report?

Everyone has a role in preventing fraud, waste and abuse in our health care system. People who abuse the system harm us all by driving up the cost of care. Safeguarding Texas tax dollars helps ensure the programs can serve the people who need them.

Tips for Reporting

Please provide as much information as possible. Helpful information includes:

• The date of birth and Social Security number of the person you suspect is getting state benefits they are not entitled to receive.
• The phone number and address of the person you suspect.
• If you suspect a provider of wrongdoing, give the name and address of the clinic, office or business they work for.
• Any other information you think might be helpful to an investigator.

What Happens Next?

When you submit your referral, you will receive a tracking number. Keep this number handy. You will need to provide it if you have more information to add later.

The OIG is prohibited from providing you with an update on the status of any open investigation.

Your identity and contact information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Reporting EBT card skimming and requesting replacement benefits

The OIG Fraud Hotline does not process card cancellations or replacement benefits.

If you believe your SNAP benefits have been stolen or that your EBT card (Lone Star card) has been compromised, immediately contact the Lone Star card helpdesk at (800) 777-7328 to cancel the card. A new card should arrive in the mail within seven days, allowing clients to access their balance.

To request replacement benefits, SNAP recipients must visit a local HHS office and fill out Form H1854, Affidavit for Unauthorized Use of EBT Benefits. If individuals are unable to visit a local office due to factors such as age, disability, distance, or inability to appoint an authorized representative, they can call their local HHSC office to have the form mailed to them. Once the claim is reviewed, HHSC will inform the individuals by mail within two weeks if they are eligible for replacement benefits.

Benefits replaced cannot exceed the amount stolen or an amount equal to two months of the household’s SNAP benefits, whichever is less. Please visit the HHS SNAP fraud benefit replacement page for more information on the process, including important deadlines.

Fraudulent Websites

If you are aware of a fraudulent website targeting HHS recipients or related to HHS programs, please report the concern as a cybercrime to the following agencies:

• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
• Texas Office of Attorney General.
• OIG Fraud Reporting Form or 1-800-436-6184.

If You Are a Provider

Providers who discover an error in submitted claims have a responsibility to notify the OIG. Please review the Self-Disclosure Protocol.